Breeding Columbian Tetra 11-2-18

[@quint3570]

Love these fish

[@berenicehickey1503]

I will try any new fry with microworms. Here in Singapore live food is easy to come by.. Great vid.

[@PatrickDNeary]

I just found one fry of theirs today in a tank I moved 3 from. I was pleasantly surprised, especially since I read they needed softer water to breed. After this evening's discovery, I've taken the three I have and put them in a pond basket in a separate tank to see if I can breed several on purpose! I may have some eggs tomorrow!

[@ejbrinegar]

Dear Sir: This is an extremely hardy species. I've found fry in 5-gallon buckets that have been at room temperature (68 °F) for weeks. My water is very hard and alkaline, but my, Columbian tetra breed readily in it. I've found that the best way to catch the fry (or eggs) is to do gravel vacuums in a large tank in which several adults reside. Since they are egg-scatterers, Columbian tetra eggs and fry are likely to be in the gravel of a tank in which they are breeding. Save all of this water in a small, heated tank, preferably with a sponge filter or a sponge over the intake of a hang-on-the-back filter. After several days, fry may be apparent (usually sticking to the glass before absorbing all of their yolk sacs). I used to try and offer infusoria to newly hatch Columbian tetra, but found that this tends to soil the water. I only offer them brine shrimp nauplii. They appear to survive on whatever microbes are in the water until they are large enough to consume brine shrimp nauplii. I wish you good success in your, aquarist endeavors. Sincerely, Brinegar

[@PatrickDNeary]

@@ejbrinegar Great information. Thanks!

[@everythingaqua7832]

Great video - had never seen fry of this fish

[@ejbrinegar]

Dear Sir: I've been breeding them for about six years. In-breeding doesn't appear to be an issue, but I occasionally purchase new stock, just in case. I'll be sure to post footage of fry if, I am able to get them. Thank you for your interest and support. All my best, Sincerely, Brinegar

[@everythingaqua7832]

@@ejbrinegar thank you for info, sir much appreciated!! Will continue watching..

[@berenicehickey1503]

What a great idea to keep water from gravel cleaning from tank is!! I'll Try that!

[@ejbrinegar]

Dear Berenice Hickey: I usually only collect eggs from this process. They hatch in about three days. I have been able to keep the fry alive by giving them live, brine shrimp nauplii as a first food. This may be too big for them, but they seem to survive on microbes until they can consume them. I tried adding green water as a first food. But, this tended to foul the tank and I lost more fry, that way. I wish you all the best with your, aquarist endeavors. Sincerely, Brinegar

[@AngelosFishTanks]

You got a nice group of them going Brinegar

[@ejbrinegar]

Dear Angelo: I continue to consider trading fancy guppies for store credit. However, I'm convinced that they are so often sold to inexperienced aquarists that I hate to do so. Though they are sold for only $2.00/each, I doubt that many inexperienced aquarists would bother with Columbian tetra. I prefer to trade them and allow my, fancy guppies to remain with me, where they will get the best of care. Thank you for your, continued help and support. All my best, Sincerely, Brinegar